The global number of COVID-19 cases and deaths are now increasing for the first time in two months, largely driven by an ongoing rise in Europe that outweighs declines in other regions, W.H.O. Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday.

The highest case increases in the last two weeks were in the Czech Republic (up by 234%), Hungary (up by 200%) and Poland (up by 183%), according to the W.H.O.

The director-general attributed ongoing infections "in large part" to inequitable access to tests and vaccines.

"Eighty-times more tests, and 30 times more vaccines, have been administered in high-income countries than low-income countries," Tedros said. "If the 6.8 billion vaccine doses administered globally so far had been distributed equitably, we would have reached our 40% target in every country by now."

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Hospital admissions have fallen by about 55% since late August, according to federal data.

But five states have seen at least a 15% increase in hospital admissions over the last two weeks: Alaska (21.7%), Colorado (15.9%), Maine (35.3%), New Hampshire (38.9%) and New Mexico (19.6%).

Alaska currently has the country's highest infection rate, followed by Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and Idaho.

The U.S. reported approximately 1,600 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday alone. Deaths are about 1.5 times higher in non-metropolitan areas than in metropolitan areas, according to federal data.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Colorado's available number of ICU beds is at the lowest point of the pandemic following a dramatic spike in hospitalizations and the winding down of extra beds added in the last surge.

Colorado currently has 1,191 COVID-19 patients, according to state data, and 29% of hospitals anticipate an ICU bed shortage in the next week. 

State health officials told ABC News that hospitals in El Paso County have turned away transfer requests over the lack of beds.

“We are continuing to move very much in the wrong direction,” Scott Bookman, the state’s COVID-19 chief, said at a briefing.

-ABC News' Jeff Cook

New York City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Wednesday he's preparing to make major operational changes next week as significant portion of the city's firefighters and EMS personnel haven't complied with the city's vaccine mandate.

"We will use all means at our disposal, including mandatory overtime, mutual aid from other EMS providers, and significant changes to the schedules of our members," he said in a statement.

The mandate for all New York City public employees will go into effect at the end of day Friday. The FDNY said that 65% of its members were vaccinated as of Wednesday.

An FDNY official told ABC News that by Monday fire and ambulance services could be reduced by as much as 20%.

FDNY leadership has held virtual meetings with uniformed staff explaining the vaccine mandate and imploring them to comply, and will continue doing so throughout the week, the official said.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

White House press secretary Jen Psaki revealed Sunday evening that she tested positive for COVID-19 and has been experiencing mild symptoms.

Psaki said she chose not to travel with President Joe Biden to the G-20 summit after members of her household tested positive for the virus last week.

Psaki said she quarantined and tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but on Sunday she tested positive.

"Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms which has enabled me to continue working from home," Psaki said in a statement.

"I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the ten day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution."

Psaki said that she last saw the president in person on Tuesday, "when we sat outside more than six-feet apart, and wore masks."

-ABC News' Ben Siegel